Volkov Capo's Fiancée and Best Friend Tried to Poison Him at Their Engagement Gala — A Deaf Girl's Signs Saved His Life
The revelation about the waterfront properties tightened the noose around Leo and Valentina. I now had irrefutable proof of their calculated sabotage, a direct assault on the family’s assets. But before I made my move, I wanted to confront Leo, to look him in the eye and see if there was any flicker of the man I once called my best friend.
I arranged a private meeting, carefully choosing a neutral, dimly lit club known for its discretion, far from any Volkov or Bianchi territory. No bodyguards, just me and Leo, as it used to be. I wanted him to feel secure enough to let his guard down, even for a moment.
He arrived promptly, a practiced smile on his face, his usual charismatic self. He even clapped me on the shoulder, a gesture that now felt like a viper’s caress.
“Elias, my friend,” he said, his voice smooth. “What’s this urgent meeting about? I hear things are… tense with Valentina.”
I chose a quiet booth in the back. The ambient jazz music was a thin curtain over the brewing storm.
“Things are indeed tense, Leo,” I stated, my voice even. “Especially after Valentina’s little performance for the elders.”
He feigned a look of concern. “Ah, yes. She was quite distraught, Elias. Your accusations… they cut her deep. I tried to calm her, but she’s quite volatile when she feels wronged.”
The gall of him, playing the peacemaker, the concerned friend. It was a specific, petty cruelty, maintaining the facade even when we both knew it was a lie. He was enjoying the act, savoring my presumed ignorance.
“Distraught, or cunning?” I countered, my gaze unwavering. “Those Romano documents, Leo. They were expertly crafted.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Elias, I know you’re under stress. But to suggest Valentina would stoop to such tactics… it’s absurd. She loves you.”
The mention of love, coming from his lips, felt like a deliberate insult. He was mocking me.
“And Crimson Veil Holdings, Leo?” I pressed, watching his face intently. “Is that absurd too?”
His smile didn’t falter, but a subtle tension flickered in his eyes. A micro-expression, gone in an instant.
“Crimson Veil?” he chuckled, feigning ignorance. “Never heard of it, Elias. Sounds like some kind of gothic romance novel.”
“It’s a shell corporation,” I stated, leaning forward. “With you listed as the sole director. Untraceable deposits totaling $2.8 million. And recent acquisitions of properties critical to our waterfront development.”
His smile finally vanished. His eyes hardened, becoming cold and reptilian. The mask was slipping, revealing the true man beneath.
“You’ve been doing some digging, haven’t you, Elias?” he said, his voice losing its friendly veneer. It was now laced with a chilling edge.
“I have,” I confirmed. “I don’t appreciate being poisoned, Leo. Or being made a fool of. Or having my projects sabotaged.”
He leaned back, a slight smirk now playing on his lips. “Poisoned? Elias, you really are losing your grip. Perhaps the stress is finally getting to you.”
He continued to mock my sanity, a recurring, personal cruelty. It was designed to make me question myself, to diminish my words.
“We both know what was in that drink,” I retorted, keeping my voice low. “And we both know about Crimson Veil. There’s no escaping it, Leo.”
He took a slow sip of his whiskey. “There are always ways to escape, Elias. For those who are clever enough.”
Then, his gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “You know, Elias, some birds fly too close to the sun. They get too curious. They dig in places they shouldn’t.”
My blood ran cold. He wasn’t talking about me. He was talking about Sophia.
“My sister is off limits,” I snarled, my voice barely controlled.
His smirk widened, a truly venomous expression. “Is she? Curiosity can be a dangerous thing for a young woman, Elias. Especially when she starts poking around in places that are… sensitive.”
The veiled threat against Sophia was chilling, a sudden, brutal turn in the conversation. It revealed not only his knowledge of her investigation but also his willingness to use violence against my family. The casual way he delivered it, as a friendly warning, made it even more terrifying. This wasn’t just about business anymore. This was personal.
“You lay a hand on her,” I warned, my voice a low growl, “and I will personally ensure you regret the day you were born.”
He chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “Such passion, Elias. But passion blinds. And a blind man makes mistakes. Perhaps Sophia should reconsider her… hobbies.”
The casual dismissal of Sophia’s intelligence, referring to her rigorous investigation as mere “hobbies,” was another petty cruelty. It showcased his contempt for her, and for me, for trusting her. He was asserting his dominance, his belief that he could hurt those I loved with impunity.
“You won’t get away with this, Leo,” I vowed.
“We already have, Elias,” he countered, his eyes glinting. “You have no proof that holds up to the family. Only wild accusations and paranoia. And now, you’ve alienated your closest allies. You’re alone.”
He was trying to rattle me, to instill fear. But the threat against Sophia had solidified my resolve. Any mercy I might have felt for him, any lingering pang of past friendship, had evaporated completely.
“You underestimate my family, Leo,” I stated, my voice calm despite the rage boiling inside me. “And you gravely underestimate me.”
He shrugged, a dismissive gesture. “We’ll see. But tell Sophia to be careful. The world is a dangerous place for curious little birds.”
He stood up, finishing his drink, leaving a few crisp hundred-dollar bills on the table, more money than he ever claimed to possess in his ‘strapped for cash’ days. It was a final, taunting gesture, a display of his ill-gotten wealth.
“Walk away, Elias,” he advised, his back to me. “For your own good. Before you and your sister get burned.”
He walked out of the club, disappearing into the night, leaving me alone with the chilling echo of his threat. He knew. He knew about Sophia. And he wasn’t afraid to use her as leverage. The confrontation had not yielded a confession, but it had revealed a deeper, more sinister layer to his betrayal: a willingness to target my sister. The game had just become far more dangerous. My best friend was now a declared enemy, and he had just drawn a line in the sand, directly at Sophia.
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